NAI Koella RM Moore selected to help shape commercial opportunities at major Exit 407 destination project.
SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. (Smokies.LIVE Information Center) — A major destination development planned near Interstate 40’s Exit 407 is taking another step forward, with NAI Koella RM Moore selected as the master broker for The 407: Gateway to Adventure.
The firm will represent Kituwah, LLC, the economic development arm of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, as plans move forward for the large-scale destination development.
Mary Ellen Kilburn of NAI Koella RM Moore says the project represents a growing shift in commercial real estate toward destinations built around experiences rather than simply retail and office space.
The vision for The 407 includes opportunities for entertainment, hospitality, dining, attractions, outdoor recreation and other experiences designed to encourage visitors to spend more time in the area.
“This opportunity is about much more than leasing commercial real estate,” Kilburn said. “It’s about helping shape one of Tennessee’s premier destination developments.”
The development comes as the Exit 407 area continues to grow as a major gateway for visitors heading toward the Great Smoky Mountains.
Buc-ee’s has helped transform the interchange into a destination of its own, drawing millions of visitors annually. At the same time, Sevier County’s tourism industry continues to generate billions of dollars in visitor spending each year.
Kilburn said that combination creates an opportunity for The 407 to build on the momentum already surrounding the corridor.
The project’s broader vision includes:
- Entertainment designed to inspire adventure
- Hospitality aimed at encouraging longer stays
- Dining that becomes part of the visitor experience
- Attractions designed to create lasting memories
- Outdoor recreation celebrating the Smoky Mountains
- Unique experiences aimed at the millions of visitors traveling through the region
The announcement does not identify specific tenants or attractions that will ultimately be part of The 407.
Instead, NAI Koella RM Moore will work with prospective brands, hospitality companies, entertainment operators and developers as the project moves toward creating a destination along the heavily traveled Exit 407 corridor.
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians has increasingly pursued economic development opportunities beyond its traditional boundaries, with Kituwah, LLC serving as its economic development arm.
For Sevier County and the surrounding region, development at Exit 407 could further strengthen an already busy tourism corridor connecting Interstate 40 with Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Kilburn said the project’s potential goes beyond the buildings themselves.
“The future of commercial real estate isn’t measured by the buildings we construct,” she said. “It’s measured by the destinations we create and the experiences people remember.”
As The 407 moves forward, the next phase is expected to focus on bringing commercial, hospitality and entertainment partners into the development.
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